Mission and Identity
From the Mission and Identity Team
150 Year and 120 Year Commemorative Badge
This week our Staff and Students received commemorative badges celebrating 150 Years of Loreto Education in Australia, and 120 Years of Loreto education in South Australia. The badges were blessed at our Opening School mass by Father Chris Jenkins.
The 150 Anniversary Badge will be worn by all Loreto Staff and Students across all Loreto Schools in Australia. The badge was designed by a Year 10 Student from Loreto College Ballarat. The badge reflects the origins of the Loreto story in Ballarat - please see the image that details this information.
Reflections from the Social Justice tour to Vietnam and Cambodia
In November 2024, 18Year 11 and Year 12 students took part in the Social Justice Tour to Vietnam and Cambodia. In our school newsletter you will be able to read and reflect on the journey that they shared together. The students visited the major cities of Saigon, (HCMC), Phnom Penh and Siam Reap, learning about the history and culture, and completing acts of service. Our next reflection comes from Deputy Head Girl Tigi Gambranis:
Just 8 hours after the term wrapped up, eighteen of us girls across year 11 and 12 embarked on what would be a journey of a lifetime. After around 10 hours of flying, we arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, taking a late-night bus ride through the bustling streets of Saigon, the city which we would call home for the next week. Our time in Saigon was filled with a kaleidoscope of colours, noises, sounds, tastes, new words, new cultures and new insights, which brought out the full spectrum of emotions in all of us as we learned to communicate with locals in the best Vietnamese we could manage, and connecting with the children through song and touch.
When we weren’t spending time with the children or haggling for bracelets or bags at the local market, we learnt about the history of the Vietnamese people. The War Remnants Museum gave us insight into the atrocities committed by both sides of the Vietnam War, or the American War, as it is referred to ibn Vietnam. The museum itself and its array of photographs, testimonies and artefacts confronted many of us. It brought history so close; we were separated only by time. We were also able to go to the women’s museum, looking at the strong part women have played in Vietnamese culture and their contributions to Vietnamese society. These journeys brought many feelings of anger, sadness, grief and resentment. Reflecting on the link between the war crimes such as Agent Orange, and the suffering it caused, our hearts ached at the injustice. However, when talking to our beautiful guide Lien, we learnt about the Vietnamese culture of forgiveness, something I found incredibly touching. How as a nation they could go through what they had and come out the other side living in unity and having such open and forgiving hearts as so many of the people we met indeed had.
Seeing how they have rebuilt their beautiful nation, defined by art, culture, music, and values rather than their past, is truly inspiring. Many of our days were spent walking through the city, completing an Amazing Race, testing our directional abilities and our (limited) Vietnamese vocabulary while immersing ourselves fully in our surroundings. The loud hustle and bustle of the streets contrasting with the tranquility of the quiet rooms in the orphanages, where we spent time feeding the children and learning the importance of basic human connections like touch, smiles, hugs and laughter.
I bonded with a boy whose name is Luc An, he’s 7 and has cerebral palsy, he is also non-verbal. However, in the hours I spent with him, feeding him and helping him with different physical therapy exercises, his warm smile, laugh and curious eyes looking into mine, taught me more about love, compassion and connection than I think I’ve learnt in the last 16 years combined.
Similar connections also found in the Loreto Vin Loc school, where we visited children, and were able to gift them the art packs filled with pens, pencils, watercolours and notepads. The little girl I was buddied with, Nyung, was shy yet incredibly cheeky and warm. We bonded over laughter and games as I attempted to teach her colours, though she was more interested in the cartoon dog I’d drawn in the notebook, and insisted I teach her how to draw that instead (we did a bit of both). Her giving spirit eminent as we departed, and she gave me two small plastic figurines, gesturing that the two of them were the two of us, and was insistent that I kept them. Here was a girl with so little, so genuinely happy and proud to give something to me, I was blown away.
The connections which we made with the children, from Thein Phouc Orphanage, Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for the Blind, and Vinh Loc, located in the outer districts of Saigon are ones which I think have had a deeply profound impact on each of us - teaching us that communication is more than words, the privilege of education, and how much a smile is truly worth.
The Mekong greeted us with torrential rains as we embarked on our journey towards Cambodia. Our time at the homestay was filled with breathtaking beauty and allowed us to learn about Vietnamese culture and lifestyle beyond the city. We learnt about the resourcefulness of the locals, the uses of the river, how to cook traditional food, and we were then enchanted with a late-night musical performance by our hosts before waking up to continue our journey the next day. As we arrived in Cambodia, we were greeted by a smaller yet still bustling Phnom Penh. Bright colours of the Buddhist flag hung proudly along the riverbank, and the gleaming golden castle of the King sparkled in the distance as we docked and disembarked. Cambodia yet again, brought out a full spectrum of emotions. We spent the first two days learning about the horrors the country went through under the rule of Pol Pot. Meeting the two incredibly brave survivors of Toul Sleng and walking through the Killing Fields where so many innocent Cambodians lost their lives, I felt yet again the mixture of frustration and grief for this beautiful nation.
Still yet again the beauty of the land and the smiling faces of the people we met are the memories which I will hold dearly in my heart. The families we were able to help by planting coconut trees, which will provide a source of income, and the children we met in the orphanage who we were able to connect with and support. Angkor Wat stands as a testament to the long-standing Cambodian culture, which is so much more than the darkness - it is the religion, music, dance, fashion and innovation which are so eminent throughout its society.
Our journey through Vietnam and Cambodia was more than a trip, it was a lesson in resilience, love, and human connection. From the laughter of children to the wisdom of survivors, we left forever changed. These experiences, etched in our hearts, remind us of the beauty in kindness, culture, and shared humanity.
Tigi Gambranis
Deputy Head Girl
Liturgical Life
This week, our school community gathered for the Opening School Mass of 2025, marking the beginning of a year filled with both celebration and reflection. This year is especially meaningful as we commemorate two remarkable milestones—the 150 years of Loreto education in Australia and Southeast Asia, and 120 years of Loreto education in South Australia. We honour their legacy of courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to education, which continues to inspire us today.
As a school community, we also reflected on our Loreto value for the year: Verity. Verity calls us to live with authenticity, to seek truth in all that we do, and to help others discover the truth at the heart of who they are. Inspired by Venerable Mary Ward and modelled by Mother Gonzaga Barry, we are reminded that walking in truth leads us to a life of integrity and faith.
Our Mass also connected us with the Catholic Church’s Year of Jubilee—a time of renewal, reconciliation, and hope. A special moment in our celebration was the blessing and commissioning of our new Chair of the School Board, Ms Samantha Hellams, blessing her as she takes on this important role in guiding our school into the future.
Another highlight of the Opening Mass was the Acknowledgement of the Year 12 class of 2025. Fr Chris Jenkins blessed the badges which were presented to the students before they recited the Pledge of Leadership. As we embark on 2025, we do so with faith, gratitude, and a deep appreciation for the values that have shaped our community for generations. May this be a year of inspiration, truth, and joyful celebration as we continue the legacy of Mary Ward and the Loreto Sisters.
Junior School Liturgies
Our Junior School community also gathered for a special liturgy, celebrating the induction of student leaders for the year ahead. In the presence of their peers, teachers, and proud parents, our young leaders received their badges from the Principal, Ms Kylie McCullah and Head of Junior School, Mrs Lisa Sexton, marking their commitment to serving our school with kindness, responsibility, and integrity.
This week, Year 5 Gold students led a beautiful liturgy focused on our core value of Verity, reminding us of the importance of seeking truth and being true to ourselves. This liturgy also saw the introduction of new liturgy leaders, who supported liturgy for the first time in their roles, reflecting our school’s ongoing commitment to nurturing leadership and spiritual growth in our students.
These moments of prayer, reflection, and leadership remind us of the strong foundation of faith and community that continues to shape the heart of our school.
Isabelle Roberts
College Liturgist